Lottery: Easier Money Making than Crime

He couldn't get away with robbing a bank, but he sure did get away with winning the lottery.

Convicted bank robber Timothy Elliott, 55, won $1 million in the Massachusetts lottery and will keep the prize money too, save a monthly $65 probation supervisory fee.

First Try
Elliott, who was looking for an easy way to make money, was serving prison time after pleading guilty in October 2006 to unarmed robbery of a Cape Cod bank. His probation was five years, during which he was not allowed to "gamble, purchase lottery tickets or visit an establishment where gaming is conducted."

Second Try
Determined to make some easy money nonetheless, Elliott purchased a $10 lottery ticket for the "$800 Million Spectacular in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

The winning will be awarded Elliott in 20 annual checks, each of $50,000, which he has already collected from the lottery commission.

Even the lottery's communications director Dan Rosenfeld said "Winners are winners. We treat them the way winners should be treated." But having violated his probation, will Elliott keep the money?

And the Verdict Is...
Barnstable Superior Court Judge Richard Connon ruled that yes, Elliott will get to hold on to his winnings. He will, however, have to pay a monthly $65 probation supervisory fee.

The violation was "minor," and there was no objection on behalf of the Massachusetts lottery commission.

In this regard, Rosenfeld said that check-ups of winners were made routinely only for the purpose of finding names of people who owe back taxes or child support, not cross-referenced to police files.

Lottery Pays, Crime Does Not
Elliott's makes for a telling, if ironic story. Crime, in his case as in any case, does not pay. For easy money making there are other ways and means more legal.

A Winning Smile
Elliott is shown in the picture above holding the first check, a picture that appeared briefly on the Massachusetts State Lottery website.